Biography

"... The young lady everyone is talking about - Amanda Echalaz. Her Tosca at Holland Park wowed even my most hardened colleagues, but this Tosca (Royal Opera House) on the very stage Callas once trod was blessed with with a temperament and a completeness that was world class. It's rare to find a voice of such true spinto colour, dark plangent with a stonking top... exceptional talent." Edward Seckerson, The Independent

Described as the "leading Tosca of her generation," soprano Amanda Echalaz has appeared at leading opera houses across the world, including the Royal Opera House, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Sydney Opera House.

Echalaz came to worldwide prominence when she represented South Africa in the Cardiff Singer of the World competition. She made her debut at the Royal Opera House in the 2008 season when she was invited to create the role of Ker in the world premiere of Harrison Birtwistle's opera The Minotaur under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano.

Following critically acclaimed performances as the title role in Tosca at Opera Holland Park, Echalaz was invited to reprise the role for Covent Garden, the Salzburg Landestheater, the Berliner Staatsoper and l'Opéra National du Rhin.

Other career highlights include a critically acclaimed debut in the role of Salome at La Monnaie, Elisabetta in Don Carlo at the Berliner Staatsoper, Maddalena in Andrea Chénier at the Bregenz Festival, Manon Lescaut at both Polish National Opera and La Monnaie, Tatiana in Eugene Onegin at Bologna, and Tosca at the Sydney Opera House and Dresden Semperoper.

Echalaz made her American debut as Tosca with The Santa Fe Opera in 2012 and debuted in the title role in Madama Butterfly at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2013. She reprised the role of Cio-Cio San for her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2014.

Most recently, she performed the role of Lucia in the world premiere of Thomas Adès' opera The Exterminating Angel at the Salzburg Festival and the Royal Opera House, and will reprise the role at the Metropolitan Opera in Fall of 2017.